Curtain-fixture.



N0. 763,219. TATENTED JUNE 21, 1904. H. M. STURGIS. CURTAIN FIXTURE.APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1903. no 1101121,. 2 sums-3111mm 1.

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PATBNTED JUNE 21, 1904.

H. M. STURGIS. CURTAIN FIXTURE. APPLIOATIONFILED JULY 14, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 21, 1904:.

I ATENT Orricij.

HERBERT M. STURGIS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT H. BROWN AND AARON 'LEVINGSTON.OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION for ng pa of Letters Patent No. 768,219, dated June 21,1904.

Application filed July 14, 1903. Serial No. 165,499. (No model.)

To (LM w/mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT M. STURGIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, State of Missouri, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is aspecification containing a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to curtain-fixtures; and it consists in the novelconstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of my invent-ion is to provide an improved curtain-fixture ofthe class known as self-ahmng and which shall be constructed in such amanner as to avoid a number of the defects heretofore encountered, amongwhich may be mentioned the accidental jumping of the grip-shoes out ofthe guide-grooves when the operating-handles are pressed together.

A further object is to provide an improved curtain-fixture in which thecurtain-rod will not be shortened, but will remain of a fixed lengthwhen the handles are pressed together.

My improved device is especially applicable to car-windows, but ofcourse may be used in all other suitable locations.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-window havingmy invention attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view showingthe grip-shoes mounted in the vertical guide-grooves of thewindow-frame. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one end of the curtain-rodhaving a set of grip-shoes attached thereto. Fig. 4 -is a detailsectional plan view of one end of the curtain-rod and attachedgrip-shoes. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the central portion ofthe curtainrod.

The curtain 1 is hung at its upper end upon the usual spring-roller,whereby said curtain will be automatically rolled up when its lower endis released and unrolled'when the lower end is moved downwardly. Thelower end of the curtain is attached in any suitable manner to a tubularcurtain-rod 2, which has upon each of its ends a fixed grip-shoe 3,which is provided with. a roughened or serrated grip-surface 4., whichlatter is embossed or elevated beyond the adjacent surface of 5 saidgrip-shoe. Said fixed shoes may of course be secured in position uponthe ends of the curtain-rod in any desired manner, as by the use ofsolder or by means of screwthreads. Said fixed grip-shoes are providedwith perforated ears 5, between which is pivoted a movable grip-shoe 6,which latter is also provided with perforated ears 7, and these areconnected to the ears 5 by means of a pivot rod or pin 8, or the sameresult may of course be obtained by securing them in any known manner.It will be observed that the said movable gripshoe also has an elevatedand serrated gripsurface I and that this grip-surface is directlyopposite the grip-surface of the adjacent fixed grip shoe. Thisconstruction is best shown in Fig. 3. The pairs of grip-shoes thusconstructed at each end of the curtainrod are mounted to slide invertical guidegrooves 9, formed in the window-frame 10, so that saidgrip-shoes will be moved laterally against the opposite sides of saidgrooves during the operation of holding the curtain. It will also beseen that the length of the curtain-rod 2 is fixed at all times and isdetermined and fixed by. the manufacturer, and by reason of the factthat the length of the curtain-rod is fixed it will be impossible forthe shoes to accidentally jump out of the grooves at any time, and theonly way in which they can be removed from said grooves is by detachingthe window stops or strips 11.

The movable jaws 6 are forced outwardly in a lateral direction .by meansof the rounded or Wedge-shaped ends 12 of the grip-rods .85 13, whichare mounted within the curtain-rod 2, with their inner ends separated adistance near the center of the length of said curtainrod. The innerends of the said curtain-rods are provided with the usual handles 14,which are normally urged apart by means of the spring 15, mounted withinsaid curtain-rod with its ends engaging the adjacent ends of saidgrip-rods. 16 indicates washers mounted upon the grip-rods within saidcurtain-rod at suitable points for the purpose of centering saidgrip-rods within said curtain-rod. The rounded or wedge-shaped outerends 12 of said grip-rods are normally urged into contact with aninclined surface or projection 17 formed on the inner surface of themovable grip-shoes.

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to raise or lower thecurtain, the opera tor grasps the handles 1 1 and presses them towardeach other, thereby causing the griprods 13 to approach each other andalso compressing the spring 15. This movement withdraws the rounded ends12 of said grip-rods from contact with their respective inclinedsurfaces 17 on the inner face of the movable grip-shoes 6, and suchmovement of said griprods releases all the grip-shoes and permits thecurtain to be moved in the desired direction. hen the operator releasesthe haudles 14, the spring 15 causes the grip-rods 13 to resume theirnormal position, thereby forcing the rounded ends 12 into contact withthe inclined surfaces 17 of the said movable gripshoes, which movementwill cause the said movable shoes to be moved laterally within theguide-grooves 9 and cause the roughened or serrated surface 1 tosecurely grip the walls of said grooves. After said movable grip-shoeshave been forced into contact with the walls of the grooves the roundedends of said grip-rods will continue to move until they are forced intocontact with the fixed grip-shoes 3, and the latter will also be movedin a direction opposite that of the movable grip-shoes, and in this wayboth grip-shoes of each set will be forced into contact with the wallsof the said grooves, and the curtain will be very securely retained atthe desired point of adjustment.

It will be observed that the curtain-rod 2 is not shortened orlengthened during the operation above described, and consequently itwill be impossible for the grip-shoes to ever jump out of theguide-grooves.

hat 1 claim is l. The improved curtain-fixture, comprising a curtain,means for suspending the upper end of said curtain, acurtain-rod at thelower portion of said curtain, fixed grip-shoes at the outer ends ofsaid curtain-rod by means of which the length of said rod is fixed andunalterable, movable grip-shoes pivotally connected to said fixedgrip-shoes, and a wedging device constructed to be projected betweenpairs of said grip-shoes to force them apart and cause same to grip theopposite walls of the guide-grooves in which said grip-shoes are adaptedto be located during use, substantially as specified.

2. The improved curtain-fixture, comprising a curtain, means forsuspending the upper end of said curtain, acurtain-rod at the lowerportion of said curtain, fixed grip-shoes at the outer ends of saidcurtain-rod by means of which the length of said rod is fixed andunalterable, movable grip-shoes pivotally connected to said fixedgrip-shoes, a wedgingdevice constructed to be projected between pairs ofsaid grip-shoes to force them apart and cause them to grip the oppositewalls of the guide-grooves in which said grip-shoes are adapted to belocated during use, and suitable handles for controlling the wedgingdevice at each end of said curtain-rod, substantially as specified.

3. In a curtain-fixture, a curtain, a curtainrod secured to saidcurtain, fixed shoes at the outer ends of said curtain-rod, movableshoes hinged to said fixed shoes, said shoes having raised serratedgrip-surfaces, wedging devices mounted between pairs of said grip-shoesand extending to a point near the center of the length of saidcurtain-rod, a spring for retaining said wedging devices in normalposition, and handles connected to said wedging devices, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT M. STURGIS.

Witnesses:

UHAs. A. MoUnUu, FRANK YEOMAN.

